Ever feel like your health is treated as a checklist of symptoms rather than a complete picture? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Erica Matluck to explore what it really means to heal the whole person – body, mind, heart, and spirit. Dr. Matluck shares her Four Quadrants model of health and explains why true wellness means looking beyond the physical. We discuss how ancient wisdom (like Ayurveda’s focus on balance) meets modern life, and why your consciousness and spiritual well-being are j...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Do you find it increasingly difficult to maintain your attention for extended periods? Whether it's reading a book, watching a film, or even engaging in conversation, the ability to focus seems to be slipping away. This phenomenon is one of the biggest challenges of our times, and there's no denying the significant impact of handheld digital devices. Just take a look around - the majority of people on a train platform are glued to their phones. But what's the big deal? The capacity to pay attent...
Mar 21, 2025•9 min
I am delighted to welcome Steve Magness back to the show to discuss moving from survival mode to truly thriving. Modern life, with its relentless pressures and social media’s constant comparison trap, leaves many feeling isolated, inadequate, and unfulfilled. So what to do about it? Steve shares his thoughts on the ‘inner game’ - the art of intrinsic motivation and long-term fulfilment. Steve opens up about his own experience living in survival mode while being a whistleblower against Nike's Ore...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Letting Go of the Ego. In this bitesize episode, we revisit a fascinating conversation with Michael Pollan, author of How to Change Your Mind and host of the Netflix series of the same name, about the transformative power of psychedelics and the profound experience of ego death. What happens when we realize we are not the mind, not the constant stream of thoughts we take as ‘me’? Psychedelics have long been used to dissolve the rigid limitations of the self, and Pollan explores how this temporar...
Mar 14, 2025•10 min
We tend to believe happiness is found when we accumulate money, success and status – but that’s actually wide of the mark. According to one of the pre-eminent happiness scientists in the world, real joy is found by tapping into the transformative power of Awe. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ 🔗 Free cour...
Mar 10, 2025•9 min
Rates of burnout are soaring, and a reason for that is the huge volume of inputs we have. So what to do? Here with a few ideas is Sir John Kirwan – the All Black great who was knighted for services to mental health My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ 🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https:...
Mar 07, 2025•10 min
Flow is a peak state when we perform at our best, and feel great too. While success is not synonymous with happiness, flow is. So, how do you get in flow? Here is a tried and tested four-step formula. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ 🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmun...
Mar 06, 2025•5 min
"We are always striving for the top - but sometimes it's better to embrace being in the middle". Konnie Huq is a TV & Radio presenter, a screenwriter and a children's author, who holds the record for being the longest-serving presenter of the iconic British children's TV programme Blue Peter. The essence of what Konnie speaks about is that our continual striving for more, bigger & better makes us less happy. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Yo...
Mar 05, 2025•5 min
"If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same..." As Rudyard Kipling was well aware, success and failure are relative. Neither change who we fundamentally are, and life goes on. One man who understands this is England cricket captain Jos Buttler, who led England to T20 World Cup success, and who recently stood down as England captain My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com ...
Mar 04, 2025•9 min
It can be easy to think of flow in terms of performance but there is much more to it than that – not least that in flow our sense of self disappears and a deeper intelligence arises – some call it the 'intelligent unconscious'. The intelligence that is running 99.9% of the processes in your body right now without your interference – and that is the source of true creativity. Here to talk more about this one is the philosopher Rupert Spira. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube...
Mar 03, 2025•14 min
Emotional intelligence has been shown to be a more powerful predicator of life satisfaction than IQ. But what is it? And how can you check your emotional intelligence at any given moment? Daniel Goleman is the author of the Bloomsbury best-seller Emotional Intelligence. Danny Kerry is the Olympic gold medal winning coach who came up with the following brilliant EQ checklist: Where am I? Where do I need to be? Where ar they? Where do they need to be? My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/bo...
Feb 28, 2025•8 min
I have worked with some brilliant broadcasters who are masters at answering questions in such a way as to deftly move the conversation onto safe territory - even when it means not directly answering the question they were asked. This is a vital skill in live broadcasting, but it can be transferred to any other line of work or area of life. Ros Atkins is one of the BBCs best broadcasters and author of The Art of Explanation My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl...
Feb 26, 2025•5 min
Aligning your action with your intrinsic motivations. We are delighted to welcome back to the show renowned author, speaker, and researcher Dr. John Demartini to explore the fundamental importance of aligning your life with your deepest personal values. We discuss: The definition of values as what is most meaningful and motivating to an individual How the brain's cortical and subcortical systems influence our perceptions and decision-making Dr. Demartini's 13-question framework for honestly asse...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 12 min
You can't just think your way out of stress and anxiety. Real change happens when the body feels safe. This bitesize episode is with Emma Seppala, a best-selling author, Yale lecturer, and international keynote speaker. A psychologist and research scientist by training, her expertise is the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and social connection. She has written two best-selling books The Happiness Track and Sovereign. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https:/...
Feb 21, 2025•10 min
Rates of burnout are soaring and it is crucial to know how to manage your nervous system before it manages you. Dr. Claire Plumbly is an expert in this area and she shares her insights on the different types of burnout, the importance of recognising the signs, and practical strategies for finding balance and post-burnout growth. This conversation is ideal for anyone looking to better understand and navigate the challenges of our fast-paced, always-connected world. Show Notes: Understanding burno...
Feb 17, 2025•46 min
Your energy follows your attention - so play with that. Most people are living in their heads, disconnected from their body. This leads to anxiety, stress and burnout. In this episode we discuss simple ways to reduce some of the energy from your head - by playing with your attention. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Modern careers are full of change, uncertainty, and opportunity, rather than following a linear path. Helen Tupper of 'Squiggly Careers' fame outlines the five key skills needed to thrive in this new world of work, including understanding your values, leveraging your strengths, building confidence, networking effectively, and exploring diverse career possibilities. With the rise of AI and other technological disruptions, Helen emphasises the importance of embracing the uncertainty and developing...
Feb 12, 2025•28 min
'Nobody has a handle on this thing called life. Life is a dance you learn to engage with on a day to day basis'. Shiv Sengupta is an author and teacher who I discovered over on Substack. He has a really fascinating perspective on life, spirituality, and the human experience. As a young man Shiv had a transformative experience he had that led him to question a lot of the common ideas around self-improvement and awakening. He shares his views on the role of chaos and calm in life, and why he belie...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 22 min
Matt Little, former coach to Sir Andy Murray, shares lessons about The Way of the Tortoise. He explores the power of patience, consistency, and staying true to your values. This bitesize episode is all about enjoying the journey rather than rushing to the finish line. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ 🔗 F...
Feb 07, 2025•10 min
Improving how you breath is probably the best way to get more energy, sleep better and enjoy a calm and resilient nervous system. I'm talking to David Jackson, Oxygen advantage Master Trainer and Breathwork coach extraordinaire. We’ve split this conversation in 2 as there’s quite a lot to take in, but it’s powerful stuff. In part 2 we explore the: Powerful connection between breathing and the vagus nerve Techniques like humming to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote relaxation Critical role of...
Feb 04, 2025•48 min
Improving how you breath is probably the best way to get more energy, sleep better and enjoy a calm and resilient nervous system. I'm talking to David Jackson, Oxygen advantage Master Trainer and Breathwork coach extraordinaire. We’ve split this conversation in 2 as there’s quite a lot to take in, but it’s powerful stuff. In part 1 we explore the: Importance of breathing as a fundamental health pillar Overlooked signs of stress and anxiety in breathing patterns Misconceptions around breathing te...
Feb 03, 2025•47 min
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone” - Blaise Pascal. Rates of burnout and overwhelm are soaring and yet the advice tends to be push harder and exercise more. For people struggling with burnout this can lead to illness and a crash. On the contrary, we need to embrace stillness and simply being. Doing nothing is not easy for most people, yet it is what our nervous system's are crying out for, and it is the path to developing true resilience. 🔗 My ...
Jan 31, 2025•8 min
How Richard McCann found peace after his mother's murder by Peter Sutcliffe. At just 5 years old, Richard's life was shattered when his mother was brutally murdered by the serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper. In the aftermath, Richard endured further hardship, including a difficult home life and personal struggles with drugs and incarceration. Yet, through it all, Richard managed not only to survive, but to ultimately find the courage to forgive his mother's killer, liberating himself in...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 8 min
“Always think positively" sounds like good advice - on the surface. But is it really possible, or even desirable? In this episode, Dominic Thiem and I explore why chasing constant positivity isn’t the answer. Novak Djokovic weighed in on this idea in a 2024 interview, explaining why he doesn’t agree with the idea that we should always think positively. Novak's ability to acknowledge and allow challenging thoughts and feelings, and then recenter himself, is what makes him probably the 'mentally t...
Jan 24, 2025•10 min
Grand Slam winner Dominic Thiem is a strong proponent of the importance of mindful eating. Dominic shares his powerful perspective on how we interact with food, the role mindfulness plays in his life, and how anyone—athlete or not—can benefit from a more intentional approach to eating. Full episode: https://pod.fo/e/276837 Book Release I’m excited to announce the paperback edition of my book, Champion Thinking: Get Out of Your Own Way, Find Your Peak Performance, is now available. Published by B...
Jan 22, 2025•4 min
Merijn van de Laar had insomnia for years but is now an expert in getting a good night’s rest. He has a brilliant book out about conquering sleep struggles called How to Sleep Like a Caveman: Ancient Wisdom for a Better Night’s Rest. I used to have insomnia myself – and what I love about this book is that for problem sleepers it is a relaxing and reassuring read which is not the case for some of the biggest books in the sleep genre over recent years. So in this episode expect to learn: Why the c...
Jan 20, 2025•37 min
In this bitesized episode, elite sports sleep coach Nick Littlehales reveals his groundbreaking approach to sleep and recovery. Nick has worked with a number of the biggest football clubs on the planet including Manchester united, Manchester City, Liverpool, Team Sky and medal winning Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Learn how to structure your day using 90-minute cycles and controlled recovery periods to optimise your performance, just like top athletes do. Featuring: Nick's method of dividing ...
Jan 17, 2025•11 min
I've got a cracking guest joining me today - Andrew Tracey, the fitness director at Men's Health magazine. But Andrew is no ordinary fitness expert. He's someone who has seamlessly integrated the physical and the spiritual, straddling the worlds of hardcore strength training and deep contemplative practice. In this conversation, we explore Andrew's unique journey to developing a lifelong, functional approach to fitness, and how he discovered the transformative power of meditation and self-inquir...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 29 min
It’s a new year – and there’s no better time to start a habit that could transform your mind and body. Most of us walk – but almost none of us walk enough. We’re a sedentary species, and it’s only gotten worse in recent years. But here’s the truth: our bodies weren’t built for all this sitting. Walking isn’t just movement – it’s a powerhouse for health. It supports our organs, aids digestion, slows brain aging, and sharpens creativity. Neuroscientist and bestselling author Shane O’Mara is here t...
Jan 10, 2025•10 min
Beating yourself up because you scroll more than you want to? Stop it. Just understand that our willpower is not strong enough to continually resist the lure of the hyper addictive smartphone. So what to do? Embrace your design power. Make it harder to use your phone. Get a lock case. Consider buying a backup 'dumb phone'. I did this and turn my smartphone off in the evenings and weekends, and the people who need me can still get in touch. It has been SO liberating! This principle of understandi...
Jan 08, 2025•3 min
